“Our staff works diligently every day to provide the best care to our patients. Their enthusiasm and encouragement of our rehabilitation participants help guide them on the path to recovery,” said Miller. “It is because of our staff’s dedication that we received this national accreditation.”

The cardiac rehabilitation program is designed to assist patients with heart disease by improving their physical, mental and cardiovascular health. Patients who have suffered a heart attack, had open heart surgery, heart valve replacement, heart transplant or coronary intervention are eligible to participate in the program with a physician’s referral. The program is supervised by a cardiologist and staffed with a registered nurse and exercise physiologist who monitor the activity of the patient’s heart during exercise. During the rehabilitation program, exercise levels are gradually and safely increased to strengthen the heart.

AACVPR is currently the only organization with a rehabilitation program certification process. The process helps programs improve standards of care and helps programs meet the essential standards.

Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation is conducted in the Heart Center on the first floor of the medical center Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information about cardiac rehabilitation, call 931.380.4094.